Shoplifting couple with over 60 convictions jailed for first time after terrorising town

A PROLIFIC shoplifting couple with more than 60 convictions for theft have been jailed after terrorising a market town.

Scott Mcspadden and Tanya Momot, who are already banned from entering shops together, stole hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol and hair straighteners from two major stores.

The couple have a combined total of 120 criminal offences against their names, including 60 thefts, and were already subject to Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOS), but they had, until now, escaped jail.

In their latest crime spree in Wisbech, a picturesque market town in Cambridgeshire bordering Norfolk and Lincolnshire, Mcspadden, 39, entered a branch of Aldi while his girlfriend Momot, 31, kept a lookout outside.

Mcspadden picked up four bottles of Irish Country Cream Liqueur worth £19.96 and headed towards the entrance doors, with Momot opening them from the outside to allow her partner to make a swift exit.

CCTV footage from inside the store in Wisbech shows Mcspadden peering sideways as he enters, while she hangs around outside, peering in. A member of staff then runs after them – to no avail.

The following day, the pair entered B&M in the nearby Cromwell Retail Park and loaded carrier bags with nine Elle hair straighteners, 10 Elle heated hairbrush sets and eight fruity bath fizzers worth a total of £197.71. They were disturbed by a member of staff then ran out of the shop.

Mcspadden was previously wanted for the theft of 15 packs of cheese from a branch of Aldi and earlier last year both were jailed for stealing three Ted Baker sets and one Soap and Glory set, worth a total of £52.50, in under a minute from Boots in Wisbech.

Momot is banned from entering the pedestrianised area of the Horsefair Shopping Centre in Wisbech until June 6, while Mcspadden is banned from the Horsefair Shopping Centre and entering any shopping store at the same time as Momot until September 19, 2025.

The pair were both arrested on Dec 18 and have now finally been jailed. They appeared at Cambridge magistrates’ court on Dec 20 where Mcspadden, of no fixed address, was jailed for 28 weeks after admitting two counts of theft from a shop and breaching a CBO.

Momot, of Lynn Road, Wisbech, was jailed for 16 weeks after admitting theft from a shop and aiding theft from a shop.

Both had additional conditions made to their existing CBOS banning them from the Cromwell Retail Park.

Pc Sam Buswell, who investigated for Cambridgeshire Police, said: “The local Neighbourhood Policing Team secured a CBO against Mcspadden in September this year following repeated offending and issues being caused for retailers in the town, while Momot has had one in place for over a year.

“Both have repeatedly shown no regard for the law or the court orders imposed upon them.”

‘Both have repeatedly shown no regard for the law or the court orders imposed upon them’